Sadiron



NOV. 21, 1939. E ARK 2,180,399

I SADIRON Filed May 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR Ea/"Z /K Gian? ATTOFQNEY E. K. CLARK Nov. 21, 1939.

SADIRON Filed May 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7'7 INVENTOR marl X6 U/ark.

WITNESSES;

ATTORNEY E. K. CLARK Nov. 21, 1939.

SADIRON Filed May 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Earl 75 Clark.

BY I

WITNESSES:

JE WM AT'II'ORNEY Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE SADIBON ossuEt Application May 21, 1936, Serial No. 81,052

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically heated sadirons and particularly to such irons for domestic use.

It has been usual heretofore to connect such 6 irons to a supply circuit by means of a flexible conductor cord detachably connected to the iron, which construction has caused considerable trouble from burn-outs; and it is one object of the present invention, therefore, to permanently se- 10 cure the conductor cord to the iron and to provide a switch in the hunter shutting ofl power.

It is a further object of this invention to prevent the handle of the iron from becoming hot.

It is a further object of this invention to large- 15 ly diminish the amount of heat radiated from the iron to the users hand.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a thermal shuntwhereby a very large part of the heat which goes upward from the heater 20 is diverted and conducted to the base of the iron.

It is a further object of this inventionto intimately unite the base of the iron, the heater and a' cover plate over the heater into one body to thus provide high thermal conduction and secure 5 the parts against mechanical separation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a body with means for holding the several parts thereof against relative movement such as would result from either the base or the cover 3 plate bending out of the plane it should occupy.

It is afurther object of this invention to so mount the casing on the base that very little heat will flow into thecasing by conduction from the base.

35 It is a further object-of this invention to make the casing of good reflective material whereby it will receive or deliver but little heat by radiation.

It is a further object of this invention to secure the flexible conductor cord to the handle 40 of the iron in such a position and in such a direction that it will not interfere with the use of the iron for its work nor with the placing of the iron in its position of rest.

It is a further object of this invention to pro- 5 vide means located on the top of the casing or housing for adjusting a thermostat within the iron, indicia on the adjusting means serving to indicate the goods for which the temperature of the iron at the particular setting of the ther- 5 mostat indicated is appropriate for ironing purposes. It is a further object of this invention to provide a point on the handle of the iron to cooperate as a reference point with the indicia on 55 the adjusting means.

(o1. Z a-25) Y It is a further object of this invention to secure the handle to the housing in such a way that end surfaces of ample area are provided and a mini.- mum of heat conduction will occur between thehousing and the handle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a recess in the handle which shall accommodate the connection means by which the flexible conductors of the cord are connected to the mechanism. of the iron. providing this recess to cause the recessed portion of the handle to conform to the linesof the handle as a whole.

It is a further object of this invention to secure the end of the flexible conductor cord in one wall of the recess.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reinforcement for the cord which shall assist in the above-mentioned securing thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a support for the conductors extending within the housing from the flexible conductor cord to various parts of the iron and to insulate such conductors from the support.

It is a further object of this invention to pro- I vide a switch so cooperating withthe adjusting means for the thermostat that when the adjustment is moved to its extreme low-temperature position, current is completely shut off from the heater.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a switch which shall remain closed through all of the adjusting movement, except the very last portion of the movement to an extreme position and. shall be opened an ample amount by 5 the last portion of the adjusting movement.

Other objects of the invention and details of the construction will be apparent from the tollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevational view of the iron, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the iron with certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of theiron;

Fig. 4is a detail sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the iron with the cover of the handle recess removed;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing in rear elevation themeans for securingthe end of the cord in place in the recess;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VIIVII of Fig. 6; I

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the end of the It is also an object in 10 assembled plates are then subjected to hea y- Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the conductor-sup- I porting shelf;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational View of said shelf Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the base of the iron and the parts permanently secured thereto;

Fig, 12 is a sectional view taken on the line XIL-XII of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the iron in its resting position;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the thermostat;

Fig. 15 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation of the thermostat showing the associated switch in closed position;

Fig. 16 is a similar view showing the switch in open position;

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the thermostat disk and associated parts; I

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken on the line XVIII-XVIII of Fig. 17 and Fig. 19 is a perspective View of the cover for the recess,

The illustrated sadiron comprises a base i, preferably of forged steel of the usual general shape for the bottom of a sadiron and the weight of which constitutes most of the weight of the iron. If preferred the base may be of cast iron..

As shown best in Fig. 12, the heater 2 by which this base is heated is thin and extends over a large portion of the area of the base and is in close proximity therewith. The heater may be of the usual form comprising a sheet of mica with resistance wire wound thereon plus top and bottom'mica plates used for insulation. Since the construction of the heater in itself fo ms no part of this invention, it is unnecessary to describe or illustrate it in further detail.

The edges of the base are thicker than the body thereof and are equipped with flanges 3 which constitute upstanding edges to the dishlike main body of the base. The upstanding edgeis somewhat wider at the point of the iron as may be seen at" l in Fig. 11. At the rear of the iron the central part of the edge has a flange about the same thickness as the flanges 3 along the sides. The inner surface of the rear flange may be seen at 5 in Fig. 11 and a section of the central part thereof at 5 in Fig.1.

A plate 8 of copper or other good heat conducting material is provided next to the heater upon the face thereof farthest from the base I, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 12. This plate has upturned edges 9 in contact with the inner surfaces of the flange 3 throughout the sides of the iron. At the rear edge of the base there is no upstanding flange except in the mid-' dle third and no upturned part of copper plate 8 except in contact with this portion as shown at 6. A plate of steel II is placed upon the top of they copper plate 8. This also has upturned edges 2 in contact with the flanges 9 of the copper P In assembling this portion of the sadiron, the heater 2 is placed on the floor of the base The copper plate 8 is placed on the heater and the steel plate I I is placed on the copper. The

hydraulic pressure whereby theyare brought in to close contact with one another and the copper is caused to flow into any irregularities in the other parts which may exist by reason of making intimate contact throughout the adjacent surfaces.

While the parts are under pressure, the

of the flanges 3, 9 and. I2 are secured together by spot welding, preferably with an arc weld. These welds are at spaced intervals along the edges as shown at Hi. There is also a weld at the rear of the iron, shown at H, which unites the upstanding flange I8 occupying the middle portion of the rear edge of the base I and the flange E9 on the plate H extending along a like part of the rear edge of that plate.

While the pressure is being exerted there is a tendency for the copper plate 8 to creep toward the rear of the iron. The flange 5 at the rear of the iron resists this tendency.

Between flanges l8 and IS the copper flange 6 is enclosed and is also secured by the weld II. The copper flange 6 is separated from the ends of the flanges 9 by a portion of the edge of the copper which is not turned up and which extends over each outer third of the back. The copper plate 8 and the steel plate II are provided with notches near the middle of each outer third of the rear edge to accommodate the leads to the heater and the insulation thereon. After the welds are made, the base is a mechanical unit and may be handled without danger of dislocation of the parts thereof.

After the spot welding hasbeen done, a screw I5 is driven through holes provided for that purpose in the heater 2, the copper plate 8 and the steel plate II to secure the parts against buckling. A hose 1 in the base extending part way through said holes affords a strong receiving socket threaded for the screw which thus confines the parts between the base and the washer under its head.

Along the side edges the flange 9 of the copper plate 8 is clamped between the flange 3 of the base and the flange I2 of the steel plate The flange I2 is corrugated as shown at l2a. When the parts are brought-together under pressure as above described, these corrugations provide space to accommodate the flow of the copper under its swedging action. The soft copper is then brought into intimate thermal contact with the flange 3 and the flange l 2, insuring good base I.

A well 23 in about the middle of the base I extends so near to the bottom of the base that the portion of the-base under the well is thinner than any other part of the base,

This well is provided with a parapet 25 on the rear side and a projection on the front side to accommodate holes for screws by which parts are secured to the side walls of the well. The thermostat is supported in the well 23 by a foundation plate 29,,best shown in Figs. 14 to 16 and in section in Fig. 1. Notches 20 in the plate 29 cooperate with screws 26, one of which is seen in Fig. 1, to secure plate 29 over the well.

Screws 30; Figs. 15 and 16, mounted in the foundation plate 29 and extending through holes 34 (Fig. 1'7) in disk 3| afford bearings for the disk 3|. The disk 3| is of bimetal and is carried at the lower end of a shaft 33 which extends to the top of the housing 35 where it is manipulated by means of an adjustment lever 38. The disk 3| is secured to the shaft 33 by heading the shaft over a washer, as shown at 32.

Conductor strips 31 and 38 mounted upon the rivets which extend through the disk 3I mica 40 and the conductors 31 and 38 and cooperategwith contacts carried. on plate 29 but insulated therefrom. At the junction of conductors 31 and 38 there is a rivet extending through both and the,

disk 3I and ending in a flat head 41. This head has no electrical function but serves to cooperate Rivets 49 and 50. extending through plate 29, have at their lower ends contacts 45 cooperating with the contacts 43. At the upper end of rivet 49 it is connected to a ribbon I0.

The upper end of rivet 50" is a contact to cooperate with contact 54 carried by the lever 58 but insulated therefrom as shownmost clearly in Figs. 15 and 16. The lever 58 is provided with two downwardly ofi-set portions 51 which bear against the plate 29. The portion 59 of the lever 58 between the portions 51 is a blunt pointed triangle. A spring 89 presses against the under side of the apex of the triangle 59 and tends to depress the contact 54. Upwardmovement of the lever as a whole is prevented by screws 62 which extend through the lever near the base of the triangle 59 and hold it, with a certain lost motion, against the support plate 29. The degree to which the portions 51 are struck downward serves to determine spacing of lever 56 and thus the normal position of contact'54.

The lever has two right angle bends whereby an upwardly extending part 54 is formed therein which permits the end of the lever carrying the contact 54 to be at a higher level than the triangle 59. The vertically extending portion has a projection at one side thereof which forms an upstanding part 66, which extends into the pathway of a projection 61 rigidly fastened to the shaft 33. A post 89 secured in the foundation plate 29 extends close to, and nearly parallel with, the extending arm 66 and forms a stop against which the projection 61 comes to rest. The upper part of post 69 is of smaller diameter to'aii'ord room for projection 61 to move further before reaching its stop but the lower part is made large enough to provide ample metal to secure the post to the plate 29.

The shaft 33 is screw threaded where it goes through the foundation plate 29. A nut "II, threaded to cooperate with the threads on the shaft 33, is secured to the plate 29 by means of a skirt I2 which is turned outwardly against the under face of the plate 29.

The spring is secured in place by being fasinto this groove with a driving fit. Preferably,

the part of the piece 61 which enters the groove is ribbed and the ribs insure a 'firm grip between the sides of the groove and the projecting piece.

, The corners of the projecting piece 61, preferably are rounded or beveled as indicated at I4 in Fig. 15 for easy cam action against the extension 66.

A ribbon I8 and a similar ribbon 11 are attached 4 under the rivet head on the foundation plate" 29 and the head 54 in the lever 56, respectively.' The ribbons are of a metal which is somewhat flexible but is largely lacking in resilience. It will take whatever position it is bent into and will maintain that position with sufficient stiffness to provide convenience in assembling the device, but can yield the small amount necessary to follow lever 59.

These ribbons I0 and I1 extend from the thermostat and switch to conductors carried upon a shelf 80, shown indetail in Figs. 9 and 10. An

upwardly extending leg 8| supports the body of the shelf from the base of the iron to which it is fastened by means of a screw 82, Fig. 1. The foot 83 at the bottom of the leg 8| contains a perforation 84 for cooperation with the screw 82. This perforation is not round but elongated to provide for variations in position of the shelf and the base when the iron is assembled.

A collar 85 secured to the shelf 80 where it is The two ribbons I0 and TI extend from their described connections in the thermostat and switch to the terminals M and 92 which are at the forward end of the ,conductors 88 and 89. Binding screws are provided at these points. The conductors are threaded where these binding screws traverse them, but the cooperating holes in the shelf are made larger than the screws and are 'unthreaded. The ends of the ribbons are perforated with holes that slip easily over the threads. A very convenient way of making con nections is thus provided. Rivets 93 amd 94, adjacent the screws, are insulated from the shelf by appropriate washers and secure the conductors in place. Similar rivets -95 and 96 similarly insulated from the shelf, se-

cure theot'ner ends of the same conductors to the shelf. A similar pair of rivets 91 and 98 are installed near each end of the conductor 90. The rear ends of the conductors 88 and have upwardly turned parts 99 which extend through the housing 35, as shown in Fig. 1. A sltat IIJI, Fig. 1, is provided in the housing for their accommodation. 1 At their upper ends they are provided with screw threaded orifices, and the screws cooperating therewith are shown at I80 in Figs. 1 and 5 The rear end of the shelf 80 has secured thereto a support I05. A triangular tab I96 afiords suiiicient area for welding, brazing or other means by which the support is secured to the shelf. The under-surface of the rearmost part of the support I05 affords convenient location for a trade mark, size numbering or other desired legend, since it is outside ,of the iron, being beyond the rear edge of the base I. It has two cars IIl'I which extend forward of the upright portion I08 and are provided with holes IIO through which assembly screws maybe passed which enter holes I89, Fig.

- Two. threaded holes H2 in the shelf 80 on each of the collar 85 provide a grip for screws 2:1, by

which the housing 35 is secured in place. When the screws II2a are driven home they draw the depressedpart I20 of the housing against the collar 85 on the shelf 80, thus positioning both parts.

The housing 35 extends down into contact with the base I, but this contact is not continuous. There are lugs II5 on the upper surface or ledge H3 in the edge 3 outside the flange which contact with the edge of the housing as cearly shown in Fig. 13.

There is a lug or elevation H6 at the point of the iron extending upward as far as the lugs I I5 and cooperating with the point of the housing, as most clearly shown in Fig. 13. At the rear end, the housing 35 comes very close to, but does not contact, the extension M35 of the rear support for the shelf 00. The gap between the two is shown at H8 in Fig. 1.

The housing is made of some easily polished metal. It may be chromium plated or a bright surface, if desired, may be provided thereon in any desired fashion. Upon the outer surface it is highly polished to present a good appearance on the inner surface if not presenting as good appearance, the bright surface affords good refiection for radiation.

A depression I20 is provided in the housing where the shaft 33 extends through it. Holes for the screws cooperating with the shelf 80 at I I2 are provided in this depressed portion as well as a hole for the shaft 33.

Where the end of the shaft extends above the bottom of the housing the metal hub I2I is secured to it by means of a set screw I22, Fig. 1. The hub constitutes an insert in the molded material of adjustment lever 36 which gives the lever the advantages of molded material and also the secure position of a metal portion. A groove in the upper part of the shaft cooperates with the set screw I22 and a knurled head I23 at the top of the shaft provides good connection to the handle 36. The interior of the top of the hub is broached to cooperate with the knurled head. Provision for securing the adjustment lever 36 to the shaft 33 in any desired direction is thus made. i The adjustment lever 36 is provided with a rounded portion to enclose the insert or hub I2I and the rounded portion is provided with a flange I26 upon which indicia I21 are provided which indicate the goods (wool, silk, etc.), upon which the iron can be'used to advantage when the heat corresponds to that setting of the thermostat. At one extreme of the indicia, the word off" is placed and at the other extreme the word high.

The sadiron is provided with a handle I30 which is secured to the housing-before the housing is put in place. The handle has two uprights; the forward upright, shown in section at I3I in Fig. 2, is provided on the rear surface thereof with a rib which forms a point I32 where it terminates at the surface of the iron. This point is closely adjacent to the flange I26 and so serves as an indicator point for the indicia I21.

The securing of the handle to the housing is illustrated in detail in connection with its forward upright. The foot of each upright is larger than the cross section of the upright itself thus giving a good appearance to the handle. Also the handle thus contacts or comes nearly into contact with the housing over a considerable area. There may be a small gap between the foot and the housing, as shown at I34 in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 4. This gap is too small for the user to easily observe it. A similar gap is provided at I35under the foot of the rear upright, and it also is not easily observed in the assembled iron.

An insert to afford cooperation between the material of the handle I30 and metal screws is 'n0st,.clearly shown in connection with the front upright of the handle. The insert is of metal and threaded to receive a screw I31. The material into which the inserts extend is preferably molded material, such as some of the condensation products, but any suitable material, even wood, could be used. It should not be metal, however, because it is preferably a thermal non-conductor.

A washer of asbestos or other thermal insulation is provided at I38, Fig. 4, between the handle and the housing, and a lock washer is conveniently provided at I39 between the housing and the head of the screw. The rear upright preferably has two screws because the rear upright is of greater apparent cross-section, being of sufficient size to contain a recess I4I. Similar washers are provided at these screws.

The recess MI isto house the connections between the flexible cord through which power is supplied and the interior elements'of the iron. For this purpose, a metal support plate I43 is provided. It is supported by two ears I44, see Fig. 6, which are integral with the plate I43 and in which threaded holes are provided. The screws which cooperate therewith are the ones mentioned at the end of the last paragraph. They extend through the housing and through an inwardly extending portion of the wall of the recess. One of such screws is shown at I45 in Fig. 1, and the corresponding portion of the molded material is shown at I46. When screws I45 are tightened, the gears I44 of plate I43 are drawn against the molded flanges I46 and secure the handle to the housing without putting much strain upon the floor I41.

Extensions I41 of the portions I46 toward the rear of the iron provide material to hold the lower screws for the cover plate. At the center of the top another'lug I52 is provided for the screw at the top of the cover plate.

The support plate I43 is provided with a square opening I48, most clearly shown in Fig. 7. An arched fastener I49 is provided with a tongue I50 which enters the opening I40 and serves as a pivot about which the member I49 can move when it is tightened by the screw I5I which fastener I49 and into a threaded hole in the corner of the plate.

The conductor cord I55 extends through a reinforce I56 and through the side wall of the recess MI. The outer insulation of the cord is stripped from its inner end but the insulation on the two conductors is retained. These conductors are separated as shown at I51. intact part of the cord is passed beneath the arch of the part I49 which holds them against displacement. The roof of the arch I49 is not only rounded to make the arch, but is also transversely concave toward the interior. It is thus of a double curvature, its edges contacting the cord I55 before its center. When the screw I5I is tightened, drawing the member I49 into place, the cord I55 is compressed and the edges of the arch compress it more than does the center. This Lnakes the grip of the arch upon the cord very One conductor of the cord I55 is secured under one of the screws I00 and the other under the other one. For this purpose, each conductor of passes through a hole in the rear fiat part of the The last of the the cord is preferably supplied with a ring-shaped 2,1eo,see

terminal I50 permanently secured by soldering or in any other suitable manner to the wire of its conductor.

The reinforce I50 consists of a moldable material such as soft rubber forming a conical covering for the end of the cord. At the end of the reinforce adjacent the side wall of the recess I4I in the handle, the end of the conical part of the reinforce is expanded into a flange I59 which is intended to lie flat against the exterior of the side wall. A reduced portion I50 of the reinforce constitutes the floor of a groove of which the flange I59 is one boundary. The other boundary is a flange I5I which constitutes the end of the reinforce. Preferably, the flange I5I is square with one corner cut off to afford room for the cover of the recess I.

The side wall of the recess has a notch I53, Fig. 1, therein to form one-half of the hole through which the cord I55 and the reinforce I55 enter the recess I4I The surface of the edges of this notch are oblique to the faces of the side wall to secure the reinforce and cord in position in the desired direction. The other half of the hole is provided by a notch I12 in a lug on the cover plate 110 shown in Fig. 19.

The recess in the rear part of the handle is covered by a plate I which has a lug "I integral therewith forming a portion of the-side wall, and ending in a concave surface I 12 formed to cooperate with the notch I53 in the side wall and complete the hole for the cord I55 and reinforce I55. The edge surface I12 is oblique to the side faces of lug "I to provide for the direction of the cord. This cover plate is secured in place by screws I12 at three points, best shown in Fig. 3. Lugs I14 and I15 on the cover I10 provide normal surfaces to meet corresponding surfaces on lugs I41 and I52 within the recess. The screws I13 are received in threaded portions of the molded material of thehandle and draw the cover I10 into position at the same time compressing the rubber of the reinforce at the bottom I50 of the groove and fitting theflanges I59 and I6] snugly against the side wall.

In assembling the cord and iron, the reinforce I55 is placed on the cord leaving enough'of the end of the cord exposed to provide the connections to the binding screws I00. The end of the reinforce is then put into the iron, one side of the floor I50 of the groove fitting the notch I63, while the other side will fit the notch I12 in the lug at the side of the cover when the cover is put on. The portion of the end of the cord just inside the reinforce is then secured under the arch of fastener I49. The ends are separated and each equipped with a ring terminal I59 which is then secured under the heads of screws I00.

The cord I55 is flexible and the reinforce I56 is progressively more flexible toward the thinner end of the conical part. The thick end of the conical part is fairly stiff and when reinforced by the flanges I59 and I6I is sumciently stiff to give to the portion of the cord just exterior to the side wall a definite direction.

This direction makes an angle of substantially sixty degrees with the surface of the side wall, but this surface is not parallel either with the front-to-back direction of the sadiron or with the base-to-top direction. Because this surface is oblique, the direction of the cord at its starting point is oblique.

.The handle includes two uprights. The forward one is oblique, slanting toward the rear as it rises and ending in a rounded corner which merges with the hand portion of that handle. The rear upright has been made of greater crosssectional dimensions, being apparently much thicker. This is in order to accommodate the recess HI, and the walls of this recess have been made to conform to the general curved shape of the handle so that nothing in the appearance of the handle suggests that the rear portion has been made larger for a merely mechanical purpose. v

The portion of the handle between the uprights has its smallest cross-section near the rear upright. Its greatest cross-section is forward of the center but not at the junction with the forward upright. The shape thus produced fits the operators hand comfortably.

The cover I10 is curved and fits the recess MI in such a way as to make the face of the surface of the rear upright conform to the general curve 4 ofthat part of the handle.

Just above the cover I10, a projection I15 is provided by means of which the iron can be stood upright, resting upon the projection I15 and the rear corners I90 of the housing. If the operator has occasion to make the iron cool, as rapidly as possible, this position is convenient for that purpose and in this position the cord I55 and its reinforce I55 do not contact with the surface upon which the iron is resting.

In the operation of the device, when theirbn is not in use, the current is switched off. This is done by rotating the adjustment lever 35 counter-clockwise until it is stopped. The stopping is efiected by the projecting piece 61 coming intocontact with the post 59. As it comes into this position, it pushes the arm 55 toward the rear of the iron which movesthe lever 56 into the position shown in Fig. I6, in which the I contact 54 is separated from the contact 50.

To the operator it would appear that the adjustment lever 36 was stopped by the interference of the forward upright of the handle I30 in its rotation, because, when the adjustment lever 35 has reached the position in which the current is shut off, which is the position in which the point I32 is opposite the index mark "off, the adjustment lever 39 will have nearly contracted with the upright in question. This is the position in which the adjustment lever 35 is left whenthe iron is not in use. Normally it is not disturbed after the current is shut off.

When the iron is to be put to use, the end of the cord I55 is connected to a source of power in the usual way; by a wall socket, for example. Current then flows through one conductor of the cord to one of the terminal connectors I00, say, for example, to that associated with the upper upright 99 in Fig. 9. Current flows along this upright to the conductor 88 and thence to the screw 92 and so to the ribbon 11. It descends this ribbon to the contact -member 54 and. is there interrupted, unless the adjustment lever 36 has been moved from the last-described position.

When the adjustment lever 56 is moved, it is necessarily in a clockwise rotation (Fig. 2) since it was at its extreme counter-clockwise position. Movement of the adjustment lever 35 in clockwise direction causes the cross piece 5 1 to depart the triangular part 59 of the lever upward. The

the rivet 58 to contact 45 and abutting contact 43, thence through conducting strips 38 and 31 to the other contact 43 which cooperates with the lower end of rivet 49. This brings the current to the ribbon I8 which is connected at the screw 9| with the conductor 89. -Current passes along conductor 89 'to'the other end of it where the conductor is fastened by a screw I88 to a ribbon I8I, leading to a terminal of the heater. The current passes through the heater to the other terminal thereof where it is received by a ribbon I82 and follows up this ribbon to the conductor 98. The upright part 99 of this conductor leads to the other terminal I88 from which it passes into the other conductor of the cord I55 and so back to the power supply.

The heater 2, energized by this current, heats the iron. Most of the heat passes directly by conduction from the heater into the base I, but some of it passes from the heater into the copper sheet 8. It flows along this sheet in all directions to the edges thereof where the copper flanges 9 are in intimate contact with the upstanding edges of the base I. The welds I6 and I1 conduct heat to the edges 3 and I8 better even than the contact mentioned. The heat readlly flows from the copper through the edges 3 into the base. Some heat passes through, the copper sheet into the steel cover plate It, but since steel is a poorer conductor of heat than copper, only a minor fraction of the heat will pass through the plate II into the space covered by the-housing 35.

From the plate -II some heat passes up the leg 8| to the shelf 88. There is good thermal conductive contact between the foot of the leg M and the base I. This isaiforded by the screw 82 which is as tight as it can readily be made in order that it may assist the screw I5 in preventing buckling. The tight clasp of the screw 82 upon the foot of the oblique part 8I prevents relative movement between it and the base. The hole instead of being round is elongated in order to provide for variations in mechanical assembly.

The opposite end of the shelf 88 is secured by screws through the holes in the tabs I81, see Fig. 9, into the holes I89, see Fig. 11. Very little heat can flow into the shelf 88 along the parts 8| or I88 even though these parts have good thermal contact with the base. The shelf, therefore, is

not much heated by conduction.

The plate II is finished in dull nickel. It has been found of small, if any, advantage to make it bright. The heat which flows up through the plate II is radiated into the space above itto so small an extent that little, if any, advantage will be obtained by making it bright.

The base I does not come directly into contact with the housing 35. It touches the housing at the lugs H5. These are the only direct thermally conductive connections from the base to the housing. An indirect and poor conductive connection is from the base through the screw 82, the leg 8I, the shelf 88 and the screws which enter the holes H2 in the shelf, but only a little 1 screw 82 and those in holes I88. Further security is afforded by the flange 3 but the housing 35 does not contact the flange firmly and thus little thermal conduction occurs through the flange into the housing.

The outer surface of'the housing 35 is bright and the housing, therefore, is a poor radiator,so that it abstracts very little heat from the iron and delivers little to the operators hand. The interior of the housing is not polished. It receives so little heat from the plate II by radiation that little, if any, advantage would result from having it bright.

The handle I38 is preferably of a material which is thermally a poor conductor.

Very little heat, therefore, reaches the operators hand either by radiation from the top of the housing or by conduction: through the handle. The conduction through the handle is further diminished by the thermal insulation I38 separating the handle from the top of the housing at each of the screws I31 and I45, and by the space between the end of the handle and the housing. The operator, therefore, experiences little, or no, inconvenience from the heat of the iron.

Moreover, the copper plate 2 affords a good thermal shunt which, by diverting a large portion of the upwardly directed heat from its upward travel into the base, makes the portion of the heat which is transmitted upward in the several ways described much smaller than it would otherwise be.

As the base of the iron is heated, the thermostat being located in the well 23 and, therefore, well connected thermally to the base, is also heated. The foundation plate 29, because it cov- (as the well 23, shuts in the heat within the well, so that the disk 3| quickly takes the temperature of the base. The bimetallic structure of the disc 3I causes it, when heated, to tend to become concave upon its lower face.

An elastic stress in the disk 3I is produced by the pull of the shaft 33 against the center of the disk and the resistance of contacts like 45 to the upward movement of the disk-carried contacts such as 43. The greater this elastic stress, the less the change in configuration which must be produced by the bimetallic action in response to the heat. Thus, the higher the shaft 33, that is, the higher the central part of the disk before it is heated, the smaller the temperature change through which it must be heated to cause it to pass that configuration at which it snaps, becoming concave downward. When the snap occurs, the contacts 43 open and current to the heater is shut off at two points adjacent the separated ends of conductors 31 and 38.

When the adjusting lever 38 is rotated clockwise, it rotates the shaft 33 which, cooperating with the. nut II, descends and thus decreases the elastic strain in the'disk. To decrease the elastic strain is to increase the strain which must be introduced by the bimetallic differential expansion, that is to increase the temperature to which the iron must be heated before the disk snaps.

The graduations I2I upon the flange I26 are such that, as the adjusting lever is rotated clockwise, first the mark oif departs'from the point I32 and the mark rayon comes into register with that point. Upon further rotation in the same direction, the mark; silk comes into register with the point I32 and so on. Rayon is goods with respect to which only a low temperature of the iron is required. Silk calls for somewhat higher temperature; and so on, the highest temperature-being required by linen.

a The-marks on the dial I26 thus indicate progressively higher temperatures as the dial is rotated clockwise and the mark high, representing the limit of motion in the clockwise direction, corresponds to goods requiring a higher temperature than anything mentioned upon the dial. When the dial is rotated in the opposite directibn successively, lower temperatures are called for to produce the snap action of the thermostat, until the mark rayon is in register with the point I32.

A further counter-clockwise movement of the adjusting lever 36 operates the'switch lever 64 in the way already described andcafises it to assume the position shown in Fig.-- 16 with the contact 55 open.

If during the operation of the iron it is desired to remove it from the goods, whether the current be shut off or not, the iron may be placed in the position shown in Fig. 13, in which the projection I18 and the rear end of the housing 35 rest upon the table orother support.

In order that there may be small thermal conduction ,between the iron and the support and also to'reinforce the housing, so that, even if the iron is thumped when put'into the position fliown in Fig. 13, the housing will not be dented, the corners of the housing are rounded, as indicated, in Fig. 2 at I". The rearward extension of the support I05 has rounded corners Isl which conform to the rounded parts I". They do not touch them but leave a small gap similar to the gap Ill shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the iron will not suifer, even from rough handling, when placed in this position. From the position of Fig. 13, the iron may quickly be lifted for use, because the handle I30 is readily available. a The direction of the reinforce l5, and so of the portion of the cord I" near the iron, is such that, as shown in Fig. 13, the cord will not contact the supporting surface except at a distance from the iron greater than several inches. Wear upon'the" cord because of this idle position of the iron is thus avoided.

' In the working position of the iron,when used by an ordinary right-handedpperator, the position of the cord is away from the operator. will not, therefore, interfere with the manipulation of the iron. Moreover,, because it is oblique to. the horizontal position, the cord "Us unlikely to drag upon the table or ironing board and unless the worker is using a floor outlet, it isnot likely even to rub against the edge of the table. Interference with the work by the cord is hereby avoided.

Itwllloccurtothoseskilledintheartthat many changes in detail come within the spirit of this invention. The specific ,description of the detailsillustratedisnottoberegardedasalimi- 'tation. The only limitations intended are those expressly'stated in the claims or required by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sadiron, a heavy base plate, a housing covering said plate and a handle mounted on said housing, said handle having a recess in the rear end, a flexible connector .extending into said recess through a side wall thereof in a direction oblique to the base, making an angle with the longitudinal direction of the handle less than an obtuse angle.

2. In a sadiron, a heavy base plate, a housing covering said plate and a handle mounted on said housing, said handle having a recess in the rear part, a flexible conector extending into said re- .cess through a side wall thereof in a direction oblique to the base, making an angle with the. longitudinal forward direction of the handle less than an obtuse angle, a flexible reenforcement covering said conductor, said reenforcement extending through the side wall, increasing progressively in mechanical strength from its outer end to therside wall, said reinforcement and side wall having a flange-and-groove connection between them to give firm anchorage for said conductor. 3. In a sadiron, a handle comprising two portions upstanding from the iron and a longitudinal portion between them, a recess in the rear upstanding portion and a closure for said recess conforming to the lines of the handle.

4. In a sadiron, a handle comprising two portions upstanding from the iron and a longitudinal portion between them, a recess in the rear upstanding portion anda closure for said recess conforming to the lines of the handle, a cord for delivering power to the iron and connectors housed in said recess with which the cord conductors are united.

5'. In a sadiron, a body housing, a handle thereon comprising two uprights and a hand portion. a receptacle in the rear upright, a supply cord leading to said receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, an orifice partly in the wall of said receptacle and partly in said cover, a reenforcement for said cord extending through said orifice and fastening means securing the cover to the upright to close said receptacle, said fastening means drawing the cover and handle together and so compressing the reenforcement.

6. In a sadiron, a heater, a base heated thereby. a housing on said base, a handle on said housing comprising uprights anda connecting portion, each of said uprights having a foot comprising 'an edge portion, a central portion and a recess separating sai'd portions, a heat insulating mate-' rial separating said central portion from said housing and thereby spacing the edge portion from the housing and a fastening means extending through said materialand securing said handle to said housing. 

